JANUARY 05, 2012
Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop
Reading 1: 1 John 3: 11-21
Psalm: Ps 100: 1-2, 3, 4, 5
Gospel: John 1: 43-51
“This, remember, is the message you heard from the beginning: we should love one another.” —1 John 3:11
Love is laying down our lives for our brothers and sisters (1 Jn 3:16). If we have this love, we know we have passed from death to life (1 Jn 3:14). If we do not love, we are “among the living dead” (1 Jn 3:14). Love is not just talk, but actions (1 Jn 3:18). If we have love in action, we know “we are committed to the truth and are at peace before” God (1 Jn 3:19). Therefore, love is a sign of true commitment to God and true peace in Him.
Because God is Love (1 Jn 4:16) and love is the essence of the Christian life, “love never fails” (1 Cor 13:8). Therefore, “seek eagerly after love” (1 Cor 14:1). Seek the Holy Spirit, Who pours out God’s love in our hearts (Rm 5:5; Gal 5:22). Then we will be able to love others, even our enemies (Mt 5:44), for we “love because He first loved us” (1 Jn 4:19).
Prayer: Father, You are Love. Help me to live in love and live in You (1 Jn 4:16).
Source:
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp?d=1/5/2012
